In the men’s category, it looked like France was going to secure the victory of the European Chess Championship 2013 in Warsaw, as Etienne Bacrot (Elo 2749) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Elo 2742) performed remarkably for the team that was seeded 3rd. Still, the French had to comply with draws in rounds 7 and 8, and over and above that, were defeated by Russia in the final round at 1.5:2.5 points. Azerbaijan, on the contrary, achieved two draws and beat Greece. Thus, the Azerbaijani team won the European Championship 2013 and became successor of Germany, the surprise winner of 2011. In the end, Azerbaijan, at 14.0 points, was ahead off France and the two other top-favorite teams from Russia and Armenia, who all ended the championship in Warsaw with 13.0 points. Members of the Azerbaijani team are amongst others Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Elo 2757) and Teimour Radjabov (Elo 2715), for Russia played Alexander Grischuk (Elo 2785), Peter Svidler (Elo 2752) and Dmitry Andreikin (Elo 2710), and for Armenia the world’s number 2 Levon Aronian (Elo 2801).

German men with disappointing results, German women with solid performance

From all members of the German team, the only strong player was top-class player Arkadij Naiditsch (Elo 2727) with an outstanding result of 5.5 points out of 7 duels. The other German competitors ended the tournament with rather disappointing results. Despite the 10th place on the seeding list, the German team scored only 9.0 points and therefore took a weak 20th place. Strong performances, on the other hand, were delivered by Georgia and Greece, who came off 6th and 7th at 12.0 and 11.0 points. Other than the German men, the German women played a satisfying tournament in Warsaw. The team was seeded 7th and at 11.0 points actually came off 7th in overall standings. The team’s most successful contributer of points was top-rated player Elisabeth Paehtz (Elo 2449) with 5.0 points out of 8 duels.

The women’s competition was clearly dominated by the top-favorite team from the Ukraine. This Eastern European team was cast with Kateryna Lagno, former Individual Chess World Champion Anna Ushenina, and Mariya Muzychuk, and prevailed with 12.0 points. The silver medal was obtained by the Russian team, seeded 2nd, which was led by the two grandmasters Valentina Gunina and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Poland, playing on home turf, won the bronze medal (both at 14.0 points).

At the European Team Championship 2013 in Warsaw, the French team was able to remain dominant. In the women’s competition, the Ukraine had to comply with the first draw in the top match but is still on first place.

France prevails over surprise team from Greece

In round 6 of the European Team Chess Championship 2013 in Warsaw, vardenafil hydrochloride the two leading teams from France and Greece (seeds 3 and 15) met for the top match in the men’s competition. In the end, the top-favorite from France prevailed shortly at 2.5:1.5 points. vardenafil With three draws against Ioannis Papaioannou (Elo 2639), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Elo 2742) won the decisive point. At 11.0 points France is now head of the list, followed by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani team, lead by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, was listed 6th in the seeding list and clearly defeated Georgia, 14th in seeding list, at a score of 3:1. Therefore, Azerbaijan has a point account of 10.0 points at the moment and takes rank 2 in overall standings. In 3rd place are now the top-favorite Russians, after a 2.5:1.5 match against Rumania and 9.0 points. The German team, the surprise title defender, won 3:1 against Lithuania, and at 6.0 point ranks 22nd at the European Team Chess Championship 2013.

Women’s competition: Ukraine plays draw against Georgia

In the 6th round of the women’s competition, the Ukraine was not the duel’s victor for the first time. After five victories in a row, the Ukrainian women now played a 2:2 draw against Georgia, which is listed 3rd at the moment. While Anna Ushenina was successful once again and Mariya Muzychuk was also able to defeat her opponent, Natalia Zhukova lost to Lela Javakhisvilli and Kateryna Lagno was defeated by Nana Dzagnidze. The top-favorite team from the Ukraine remains top of the list at 11.0 points, Georgia, with 9.0 points, follows in 3rd place – consistent with their rank in the seeding list. In between is the Armenian team – originally seeded 6th – which just won against Spain with a 3.5:0.5 score.

Seeded in 2nd, the Russian women achieved a 2:2 draw against the home team from Warsaw in the 6th round of the tournament. Valentina Gunina had to admit defeat to Monika Socko, while Olga Girya prevailed over Joanna Majdan-Gajewska. Russia ranks 6th with 8.0 points, while the Polish team is in 4th place at the moment. The German team was surprisingly beat by Poland III with a final score of 1.5:2.5. Therefore, Elicabeth Paehtz and team members fall behind on rank 12 out of 32, although they were rated 5th in seeding list.

While the Chess World Championship 2013 between Anand and Carlsen is the center of attention these days, Warsaw is hosting the European Team Championship with top-class competitors. After five rounds it is final that current European Champion Germany has no chance on winning medals.

France leads in men’s category of European Chess Championship in Warsaw

In five rounds of the European Chess Championship 2013 in Warsaw, the German men’s national team has only scored 4.0 points. The team that was seeded 10th, is only on rank 25 out of 38 participating teams. Germany was only able to prevail over Israel in the opening stage and obtained two draws against Spain and Poland. The German team was defeated by Georgia and England. After five rounds, the Championship is dominated by France with an average Elo-rating of 2695 points. The French team was 3rd in seeding list and currently holds a score of 9.0 points. Therefore, the French team of Etienne Bacrot and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is one point short of the trio. Seeded in 6th place, the team from Azerbaijan with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov ranks 4th at the moment. Surprisingly, Greece ascended to rank 2 (seeded 15th) and Georgia to rank 3 (seeded 14th). On the contrary, Russia has only obtained 7.0 points so far and ranks 7th, while Armenia, number 2 in seeding list, only ranks 10th at 7.0 points.

Ukraine dominant in women’s category of European Chess Championship 2013

The women’s competition has left us little surprised so far. The top-cast Ukrainian team leads the field at 10.0 points and remains undefeated. Kateryna Lagno, Anna Ushenina and their team mates have won all duels at the championship so far. Lagno and Ushenina each won four matches and achieved one draw. The Ukraine is followed by number 3 of the seeding list – Georgia – at 8.0 points. The Russian women, seeded 2nd, and the German women, seeded 5th, have obtained 7.0 points each and rank 5th and 7th at the moment.

While almost the entire world of chess has all attention in Chennai at the moment to witness the World Championship duel of Anand and Carlsen, we will focus on the European Team Championship 2013. Before we will provide detailed information about the battle for the World Championship title, let us take a closer look at the teams that will participate in Warsaw from today on.

Germany surprisingly title defender at European Championship

From a German viewpoint, the European Team Championship is of high interest. The German team is the title defending team in Poland, after they had unexpectedly won the 2011 edition of the championship in Porto Carras. However, another victory at the event is rather unlikely, as the German team, again, starts in an outsider position in the fight for the title – just like in Greece in 2011. According to the seeding list, the German team is only in 10th place.

Russia and Armenia are top-favorites

A look at the list of participants shows that especially the teams from Russia and Armenia are rated as top-favorites. The Russian team has an average Elo of 2747 points, the list being led by Alexander Grischuk (Elo 2785), Peter Svidler (Elo 2752), and Alexander Morozevich (Elo 2727). Armenia, on the other hand, will be represented by Levon Aronian (Elo 2801) and Sergei Movesesian (Elo 2700) amongst others. The average Elo-rating of the Armenian team amounts to 2715 points. The title defending team from Germany has an average Elo of 2644 to offer and is headed by the German number 1, Arkadij Naiditsch (Elo 2727 – at an all-time peak!!). The team is completed by Georg Meier (Elo 2623), David Baramidze (Elo 2614), Igor Khenkin (Elo 2612), and Daniel Fridman (Elo 2600).

Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia are top-favorites in women’s division

In the women’s tournament of the 2013 European Team Championship, the teams from the Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia are considered to have the greatest chances on winning the title. The Ukrainian women have an average Elo of 2498 and are led by Kateryna Lagno (Elo 2542), Anna Ushenina (Elo 2492), and Mariya Muzychuk (Elo 2491). Russia and Georgia have averages of each 2491 points with players such as Alexandra Kosteniuk (Elo 2510) and Valentina Gunina (Elo 2509) for Russia and Nana Dzagnidze (Elo2556) and Bela Khotenashvili (Elo 2524) for Georgia. Rank 4 on the seeding list is takes by Poland, followed by Germany with an Elo averaging at 2390 points. The German women’s team is cast with Elisabeth Paehtz (Elo 2449), Zoya Schleining (Elo 2379), Tatjana Melamed (Elo 2367), Ketino Kachiani-Gersinska (Elo 2365), and Marta Michna (Elo 2357).